Posted by
Julian Smith III on
URL: http://confocal-microscopy-list.275.s1.nabble.com/worth-paying-for-service-contract-on-Olympus-Fluoview-confocal-tp6592259p6592388.html
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We have an FV1000 and carry a contract for the confocal, but not the
lasers. Your quote seems high, so does that $20k also cover the lasers?
We average around 750 user hours per year; I'd guess you could add
10-15% to that number and get the total number of "on" hours/year.
Do you need a contract? It depends
1. Rated lifetime on the lasers is accurate, or perhaps a slight
over-estimate. I was foolishly running the system 24x5 during the first
18months (newbie error), and we went through both the 405LD and the
568DPSS. They were replaced under the warranty that came with the
instrument. The engineer went ahead and replaced the 488 gas laser at
the same time, as he wasn't satisfied with the output. My dean and
chair know that we'll eventually need to pay to replace the lasers again.
2. Aside from having a computer card replaced (again under the two-year
initial warranty), a computer monitor replaced, and routine annuals and
maintenance software upgrades, we've had no problems with the system.
Unfortunately, I have absolutely no idea what it would have cost to do
these things off-contract.
I plan to keep the contract. We're a small PUI with a sizeable
quantity of undergrad research going on, the confocal is rather heavily
used, and we can't afford to have it down for three weeks while I wait
for a non-contract service call. I also don't have time to try to learn
to fix it myself.
Julian
On 7/17/11 12:38 PM, Vernita Gordon wrote:
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>
http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy> *****
>
> Hello,
>
> I am a new assistant professor still settling into my lab (and still working
> entirely off startup funds). A little less than a year ago, I bought an
> Olympus Fluoview laser-scanning confocal microscope. This came with a
> one-year service contract. Renewing that service contract for next year
> will cost $20k.
>
> We don't do very demanding things on this confocal and so far haven't had
> problems with it. My question is, does anyone have perspective on whether
> paying for this service contract is worthwhile?
>
> I am leaning toward not doing so and hoping things continue to go well, but
> this is also my first time working with an Olympus confocal and I don't have
> a good sense for whether or not I should expect problems (and, if they
> arise, if they're likely to cost more than $20k to fix).
>
> Thanks,
>
> Vernita
>
--
Julian P.S. Smith III
Director, Winthrop Microscopy Facility
Dept. of Biology
Winthrop University
520 Cherry Rd.
Rock Hill, SC 29733
803-323-2111 x6427 (vox)
803-323-3448 (fax)
803-524-2347 (cell)
Research Website www.birdnest.org/smithj
Personal Website www.rociada-east.net